Modest exercise strengthens immunity in kidney patients

Small amount of regular exercise induces a systemic anti-inflammatory environment in the body and enhances immunity of kidney disease patients, a study finds.

"Exercise exerts anti-inflammatory effects in patients with kidney disease and may in this way reduce their high risk for heart disease," said Joao Viana from Loughborough University in Britain.

Heart disease and infection are major complications and the leading causes of death in patients with chronic kidney disease.

In an acute exercise study conducted in 15 kidney disease patients, 30 minutes of walking improved the responsiveness of immune cells called neutrophils to a bacterial challenge in the post-exercise period.

It also induced a systemic anti-inflammatory environment in the body, said the study.

Six months of regular walking reduced immune cell activation and markers of systemic inflammation in 20 patients, compared to another 20 patients who did not increase their usual activity levels over the same period of time, the researchers said.

The study is scheduled to be published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).